Technical Library

Several of the pigments found by chemical analysis to have been originally
used in the soundboard paintings have not been available for two centuries,
so we must supply modern equivalents. Some have gone out of use for a reason:
The use of Flake white (containing lead) has been discontinued for safety, although
the mercury-containing pigment Vermilion can still be found in use for furniture
decoration in some parts of the world. Highly toxic materials are always best
avoided, and many items used by artists should be used with considerable care.
Some powder pigments—particularly Alizarin crimson—are difficult
to wet, so a wetting agent can be handy, or else a small mortar and pestle to
thoroughly grind the pigment into the medium.